Short answer: the Sony SS-CS5 M2 for room-filling use, the Neumi Silk 4 for nearfield listening. The Neumi pairs a 4” midwoofer with a 1” dome tweeter and waveguide on a second-order crossover, but its measured 82.6dB sensitivity rules out large rooms, far-field listening and high volume. The Sony’s added bracing and updated crossover reduce the resonance issues, though mild sibilance in the 3-5kHz range stands out on S and T sounds.
The case for the Neumi Silk 4: A 4” midwoofer paired with a 1” dome tweeter and waveguide, with a second-order crossover. The tradeoff: Very low sensitivity (measured 82.6dB), meaning it isn’t suited for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume.
What the Sony SS-CS5 M2 gets right: Added internal bracing (corners, sides, front baffle) plus an updated crossover meaningfully reduce the resonance issues that plagued. Set against that: Mild sibilance in the 3-5kHz range stands out on S and T sounds in vocals.
Buy the Neumi Silk 4. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sony SS-CS5 M2 and costs less, which settles it without a real tradeoff to make.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Neumi Silk 4 | Sony SS-CS5 M2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 per pair | $278.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #33 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #48 of 88 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 54Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 83Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 8.9"H x 5.5"W x 8.2"D (226.1 x 139.7 x 208.3 mm) | 13.2"H x 7"W x 8.7"D (335 x 178 x 220 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 82.6dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 82.5dB |
| Drivers | 4" treated paper cone, rubber surround, cast aluminum basket, vented pole woofer, 1" silk dome, dispersion-optimized waveguide, neodymium magnet tweeter | 5.12" woofer, 0.98 in tweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) each | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.55 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.21 | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Neumi Silk 4: $199.99 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: A 4” midwoofer paired with a 1” dome tweeter and waveguide, with a second-order crossover, achieving an impressively high preference score of 4.4 for the price. Distortion stays below 1% up to about 120Hz and below 3% above roughly 50-60Hz at 86dB. High-frequency compression is surprisingly good - better than some speakers costing 2-3x as much - and at 96dB/1m for a pair, output still reaches about 93dB at 3 meters, plenty loud for most listeners. F3 of 83Hz and F10 of 55Hz with in-room extension to about 70Hz. Takes very well to EQ correction, and the reviewer provides a specific fix (a notch around 650Hz, Q of about 6) that cleans up its main resonance. Measured bass extension of 83Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 82.6dB.
Cons: Very low sensitivity (measured 82.6dB), meaning it isn’t suited for large rooms, far-field listening, or high volume. A resonance around 650Hz (likely port- or cabinet-related) creates an audible 1-2dB midrange thickness/boxiness on certain tracks, tied to a probable baffle-step compensation shortfall - about 1dB more energy in the midrange from the factory would likely have resolved it. Multitone distortion becomes audible around the same 600Hz-1kHz region at 96dB. Horizontal radiation narrows to about ±50° with the waveguide, on the narrower side of what the reviewer prefers. A diffraction-related dip around 5kHz at 5° below the tweeter axis creates a small hole in the response if placed on a desk below ear level. Nominal impedance of about 6 ohms with a low sensitivity means it benefits from a subwoofer pairing (the reviewer suggests an 80Hz crossover) for a complete small-room or surround setup.
Full Neumi Silk 4 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 55Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 83Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 8.9"H x 5.5"W x 8.2"D (226.1 x 139.7 x 208.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 4" treated paper cone, rubber surround, cast aluminum basket, vented pole woofer, 1" silk dome, dispersion-optimized waveguide, neodymium magnet tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 82.6dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.21 |
| Weight | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony SS-CS5 M2: $278.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Added internal bracing (corners, sides, front baffle) plus an updated crossover meaningfully reduce the resonance issues that plagued the original SS-CS5, giving a smoother, more neutral character overall. A modest mid-range dip (about 1-2dB) is present but tolerable, and the reviewer would rather have this dip than a peak in that region. Slightly deeper bass than the previous version, measuring about 2dB more output around 60Hz. Distortion drops noticeably when crossed to a subwoofer around 80-120Hz, meaningfully improving midrange clarity and detail versus running full-range. Easy to drive on a standard AVR - no need for a dedicated high-power amplifier. More modern, understated waveguide look compared to the previous version’s glossy trim. Measured bass extension of 80Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Mild sibilance in the 3-5kHz range stands out on S and T sounds in vocals. Some forwardness in the midrange noticeable on certain vocal recordings. Soundstage and sense of envelopment are comparatively flat and two-dimensional, especially next to reference-quality speakers with strong 3D imaging. Marketed as a “three-way” design mainly due to an added super-tweeter that the reviewer considers largely superfluous - it engages only at very high frequencies and adds complexity without a clearly audible benefit, when that cost might have been better spent on the main crossover. Output-limited: realistic ceiling is around the mid-90s dB SPL at a few meters, with comfortable listening closer to 75-85dB at 3-4 meters before distortion and compression become audible. Bass noticeably compresses/shelves below about 120Hz as volume increases, softening kick-drum impact at higher output. Smaller drivers and a lighter motor structure than rivals like the Polk XT20, which the reviewer generally prefers for its better directivity and higher SPL capability. Still needs a subwoofer for any real bass extension.
Full Sony SS-CS5 M2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 54Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 80Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.2"H x 7"W x 8.7"D (335 x 178 x 220 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.12" woofer, 0.98 in tweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter; 0.75-inch supertweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 82.5dB |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons